The short answer to this question is, “Yes, you could be!”
We’re sure you’d like us to elaborate more, though, right? Look, we don’t blame you. There are a lot of things that homeowners do (or don’t do) that may impede the performance of their air conditioner or rather the efficiency of the system.
And by restricting efficiency, you’re keeping your own energy bills high. HVAC system take up half off all the energy consumption in the average home. That’s a lot! So how can you keep using yours every day this summer but pay less? By following the tips we’re about to outline below.
Raise the Thermostat Settings
No, we don’t expect you to make your home warmer than it should be! But the truth is, many homeowners are actually making their homes cooler than they need to be in order to achieve comfort. Oftentimes, we find that customers set their thermostats to a low setting, around 71°F, thinking it will help their home cool off faster. The truth is, all this does is make the air conditioner run longer, using up more energy than necessary and costing you more to operate.
Most people are comfortable with a temperature setting of around 78°F. Turning up your thermostat by even just a few degrees can save you considerable energy, and money.
Use Your Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans are not capable of lowering the temperature in a room, but they are capable of helping your air conditioner perform more efficiently. This is because ceiling fans help you feel cooler, as it allows sweat to evaporate from your body more easily, which is a natural way we keep cool. On a mild summer day, a ceiling fan can be sufficient all on its own, without even running the air conditioner, to keep you cool and keep bills low.
When you use your ceiling fans in combination with your air conditioning system, the fans help push and distribute cool air down and keep warm air rising. You feel cooler as a result, and you don’t have to keep your thermostat setting quite so low. Therefore your AC won’t run as long.
Change Your Air Filter
The standard HVAC air filter is in place to protect your air conditioner from dust, dirt, and other debris that can get inside and damage components. Having this air filter in place helps the efficacy and efficiency of your cooling system, and so does changing the air filter on a regular basis. When it gets too clogged up, it restricts airflow, which essentially causes your cooling system to work harder to do its job–inefficiently so. Depending on the type of air filter you have, this should be swapped out every 1-3 months. Our technicians can help guide you on proper timing!
Don’t Forget to Schedule AC Maintenance
Maintenance allows our technicians to fully inspect, clean, and adjust the components that need it within your air conditioner. This allows your air conditioner to operate as efficiently and effectively as it possibly can.
This service also allows us to spot potential problem areas that could turn into emergency repair needs if not managed right away. As a result, your AC care will cost you less because you won’t be paying as much for sudden, emergency repairs–you’ll know what needs to be done and when it needs to be done.
Unless your air conditioner has completely broken down beyond repair, it’s not too late to schedule this service! Give us a call ASAP.
For professional service on your air conditioning in Orland Park, IL, contact Comfort First Heating and Cooling, Inc. today!